"I must raise the wind by fair means or foul to satisfy my fellows, as well as to make another venture before I cry die. Unless that is as unsuccessful as the last, I shall soon redeem my fortunes."
He sat for some time ruminating, now and then turning to his papers, and casting up accounts. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.
"How came I so long to forget the chest I got only off the wreck from which old Halliburt saved the little girl?" he muttered. "Though I took out not a few valuables, there were all sorts of things at the bottom of the chest, which, now I think of it, I never turned over. I will have a look at them this very night. Even a few gold pieces would be welcome, and it was evidently the treasure chest of some Indian nabob or other, his ill-gotten gains from the wretched natives he had fleeced and cheated."
He went to a chest of drawers in which he found a key.
"This must be it," he said, "by its foreign make."
Taking the lamp he left the chamber, and descended the stairs. The sound of boisterous revelry proceeded from the room where his guests were a.s.sembled.
"The drunken brutes are not likely to disturb me," he growled out, "and d.i.c.k is fast asleep in his loft."
Going across the stable, on removing a heap of straw he found a low door, which opened with a key he produced from his pocket. Going through it, he closed it carefully behind him.
He now stood in a low vaulted cavern, the earth supported by upright pieces of stout timber, with flat boards above them, which prevented the sandy soil in which it was cut from falling in. This was the excavation which he, with a few trusty companions, had formed many years ago.
Various sorts of goods were piled up in it--casks of spirits, bales of tobacco, silk, and several other articles. In a recess at the further end was a large chest.
After several attempts, for the lock from disuse was rusted, he opened it, and placing the lamp, resting on a piece of board, at one corner of the chest, he sat down on a cask by its side. On first glancing into it there appeared to be little or nothing within; but, on examining it further, he found that there was a large tray at the bottom, which apparently, on some former hurried examination, had escaped his notice.
On lifting this a number of articles were revealed closely packed; they were mostly cases of various sizes. There was a jewelled-handled sword, a curious dagger, and a brace of richly ornamented pistols, two or three silver bowls and cups, and other articles which had probably been presented by native princes or other wealthy men to the owner of the chest. Several of the cases contained jewels evidently of great value, which, as they glittered in the light, the smuggler gazed at with intense satisfaction.
"And I have had all this wealth at my command and never knew of it," he muttered. "I guessed the girl must have had wealthy friends, and as this chest must have belonged to them, it would have been worth my while to get hold of her. As, however, they have never appeared, I have been saved the trouble and expense she would have been to me, and now this store comes just in the nick of time when I want it most. The only difficulty will be to dispose of all these things without raising suspicion as to how I came by them. Still, at the worst, I can but tell the truth should questions be asked, and prove that I got them from a wreck. At all events, there are Jews enough in London who will give me cash for them, though it may cost me not a little trouble to wring their proper value out of the close-fisted hypocrites."
Such were the thoughts which occupied the smuggler"s mind as he examined in succession the articles which have been mentioned.
At last he came to another case or writing-desk, which was locked.
"I may as well overhaul the whole at once," he thought. "I must get this opened somehow."
A sailor"s strong knife was the only implement at hand. He broke off a portion of the blade in making the attempt. At length he succeeded, though he injured the case in the operation. Placing the desk on his knees, he examined the contents, which consisted of a number of papers, t.i.tle-deeds, official doc.u.ments in oriental characters, and other papers apparently of value, together with several bills of exchange for a large amount, and rolls of gold coin.
"Ah, ah! these will save me from going to the Jews as yet," he exclaimed. "I will keep the jewels and other things till any future necessity compels me to part with them."
Having examined the coin to a.s.sure himself that he was not mistaken, he was glancing carelessly over the papers, when his eye fell on a name which attracted his attention. He eagerly read through the paper, and then looked for another and another. A deep frown settled on his brow, while a look of satisfaction kindled in his eye.
"If Satan himself had been asked to do my command, he could not please me better than this," he exclaimed. "I can now more amply than I had expected accomplish the design I have for years waited for. And while I enrich myself, I shall without risk humble those I have good reason to hate."
He was now lost in thought, now again glancing over the papers.
"They and the other things will be safer here, where they have lain so long, than in the house which may get burned down through some drunken spree by the fellows I have to harbour. But the coin may as well go into my pockets at once," he said to himself, as he put back the desk with its contents in the chest.
Having replaced the tray, he brought some straw from another part of the vault, and threw in a sufficient quant.i.ty to conceal it should by any chance the chest be opened by any one else.
"This will make it be supposed that there is nothing below," he said to himself, as he closed the lid and locked it.
At length leaving the vault, he returned to his chamber. His companions" revels had ceased, and now loud snores only came from the room where they were sleeping. He threw himself on his bed, but his busy brain was too hard at work to allow him to sleep.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
MILES GAFFIN, JUNIOR.
Miles Gaffin lay on his bed turning over in his thoughts the information he had obtained, and considering how he could gain the most advantage from it. Returning to the table, he sat down to write. He was a man of decision. With him to propose was to act. "My son Myles," he wrote, for it was not his wont to use terms of endearment, "you are to come here at once. Tell Mr Crotch so from me; you need not say more to him.
I want you to make your fortune by a way to which you will not object marrying a young and pretty wife. When you come you shall know more about the matter. Get a good rig out, so as to appear to advantage.
Wait at the Texford Arms, where I will meet you, but don"t come to the mill. From your father, Miles Gaffin."
The letter was speedily sealed and directed, and sent off the next morning to the post by one of his companions, who, by that time, was sufficiently sober to undertake the errand.
Gaffin"s lugger, the _Lively_, lay at anchor off the mill. She had no contraband goods on board, so that a visit from the revenue officers need not be feared. He had previously intended going away in her, but he now was anxious to see his son before he sailed. His difficulty, in the meantime, was to dispose of his guests. They, however, as long as his supply of liquor and provisions lasted, would be content to remain where they were. He had no wish to bring his son among them, for bad as he himself was, he had, since the loss of his youngest boy, kept his other two children ignorant of his mode of life, though it was possible that the eldest might have suspected it from circ.u.mstances which he must have remembered in his younger days.
Gaffin waited with more patience than he generally exercised, till he calculated that a sufficient time had elapsed to allow of his son"s arrival. He then walked down to the little inn in the village.
Just as he readied it, a post-chaise drove up to the door, out of which stepped a young man, whom he recognised as Miles, though he had not seen him for the last three or four years.
"You are my son, Miles, I conclude," said Gaffin.
"You are my father, I suppose," answered the young man in the same tone.
"You are right," said Gaffin. "Pay the post-boy, and let him bring your portmanteau into the house. I will order a room, and we will talk over the matter in hand."
The landlady having shown Gaffin into a room, young Miles did as he was directed, and followed him.
"Well, I want to know more about this business you sent for me about,"
said the young man, throwing himself into a chair. "I have done as you told me, and I hope you think I have got a good chance."
Gaffin surveyed his son for a moment.
"Yes, you will do, as far as that goes," he answered. "Now listen to me; I don"t want to be asked questions, but do you trust to me and go ahead. There is a young girl whom you remember when you were a boy.
She was found on board a wreck by Adam Halliburt, the fisherman, and brought up by him and his wife. Two old ladies here took a fancy to her, and have given her an education which has made her fit to be the wife of any gentleman in the land. She is pretty, too, and everything a young fellow could wish for. I happen to know to a certainty that she is a prize worth winning. When you have seen her, I am much mistaken if you would not give your eyes to have her, without asking any questions, and I am not going to answer them, if you do. I have your interests at heart, and wish to serve you in the matter."
"I have no doubt you have, but I should like to have a look at the girl before I decide," answered young Miles.
"That you can do to-morrow at church where she is sure to be, and when you have seen her don"t let there be any shilly shallying; make up to her at once, most girls like to be won in an off-hand manner, and just do you go and tell her how you have seen her and fallen in love with her, and all that sort of thing. I daresay you have had some experience already."
"Pretty well in a sort of way," answered the young man in a conceited tone. "If I have got your word that she is worth winning, you will find I am not backward, and I hope, before long, to give a good report of progress."
Gaffin, satisfied that his son would do all he desired, charged him to keep himself quiet and not get into any sc.r.a.pes while at Hurlston.
"People here will know you are my son, so just get a good name for yourself, and whatever they may think, they cannot say you are not a fit match for the old fisherman"s foster-daughter," and Gaffin gave way to a laugh such as he rarely indulged in. "I will come down here again and have a talk with you after you have seen the girl. Now there is one thing more I have got to say, though I do not know to a cute fellow like you whether the caution is necessary; don"t go and be blabbing to others of what you are about."
"I have been too long with Mr Crotch not to know how to keep a secret,"
answered the young man; "and I fancy I can manage this affair as I have done several others for my employer. I do not mean love affairs though, but matters of business in which I have given him perfect satisfaction, he tells me."
The conference over, Gaffin again charged his son to behave himself, and with no more show of affection than he had exhibited on the young man"s arrival, took his departure and returned to the mill.
He kept within doors endeavouring to maintain order among his lawless a.s.sociates. He wished not to be seen in company with his son, or to let it be supposed that he was instigating him in his siege on Maiden May"s heart. From the accounts he had received from Mr Crotch of that young gentleman"s talents, he believed that he could allow the matter to rest securely in his hands. If impudence was to carry the day young Miles would come off victorious, as he was known to possess no inconsiderable amount of that quality.